Written Answers Tuesday 17 July 2007

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been economic advantages to the Scottish economy as a result of implementation of the Air Route Development Fund and the reduced need for short-haul flights through hub airports.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive’s Route Development Fund has contributed substantially to the growth of direct international air routes to and from Scotland. As a result, Scotland is now much better connected to the rest of Europe and served by a growing number of intercontinental connections to key markets in North America, the Middle East and beyond, reducing the reliance on connecting internal UK flights and providing journey time savings for both business and inbound tourists.

Child Welfare

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what records are held in respect of the (a) age structure and (b) gender of staff employed to care for looked-after children in (i) day units and (ii) residential settings, including secure accommodation.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Executive conducts an annual census of staff employed in local authority social work services departments. Information collected includes the age and gender of staff employed in day care and residential services for children. However, this information is not broken down into the type of unit providing the service, such as secure accommodation. Additionally, not all staff in these services may be directly involved in the care of looked after children and not all children receiving these services may be "looked-after children" as defined in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The latest census is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/27100810/0 .

  The Care Commission collects information on the age and gender of staff employed by services which they regulate and inspect, which include early education and childcare services for children and care homes for children and young people. This would include services provided by the voluntary and private sectors.

  The Scottish Social Services Council records the age and gender of social services workers who have applied for registration and are registered with it. The registration of particular groups of workers in day and residential services for children is being commenced in phases between 2005-08.

  In 2006, the Executive published the Scotland’s Social Services Labour Market report, which contained aggregated information across the local authority, voluntary and private sectors, including information on the age and gender of staff employed in care homes for children and young people and in early education and childcare. This is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/13112609/0.

Child Welfare

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to collate information in respect of the (a) age structure and (b) gender of staff employed to care for looked-after children in (i) day units and (ii) residential settings, including secure accommodation.

Adam Ingram: As noted in the answer to question S3W-1832 on 17 July 2007, the Scottish Executive publishes an annual census of local authority social work services departments, with the latest census available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/27100810/0 and also published the Scotland’s Social Services Labour Market report in 2006, available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/13112609/0.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Council Tax

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1052 by Maureen Watt on 21 June 2007, whether it considers that a consequence of an imposed council tax freeze could be to force local authorities to raise additional revenue from increased charges for council services in order to continue delivering services to meet local needs and circumstances.

John Swinney: The Government is committed to delivering a freeze in council tax at 2007-08 levels and we will be discussing with COSLA and local authorities how best this can be achieved. It is too early to speculate on the impact of what may emerge from those discussions.

Council Tax

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider obliging local authorities to grant automatic council tax relief to Army personnel who serve abroad.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government continues to support work at a UK-level following the then Prime Minister’s announcement in October 2006 that the UK Government would look into providing support for the Council Tax costs of service personnel on operations overseas. Discussions between officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Ministry of Defence, which also involve officials from the Scottish Executive, are on-going.

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards the introduction of mandatory pre-sentencing psychological reports in Scottish courts, as required under section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to put arrangements in place for the provision of mandatory psychological reports, as required under section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Kenny MacAskill: A scoping exercise has been undertaken, facilitated by Scottish Court Service, to examine current demand upon services for the provision of psychological reports for the courts and likely impact of additional demand which would be occasioned by commencement of section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 for solemn criminal proceedings. The resultant report highlights various options for securing sufficient resource to meet the additional demand and for uniform procurement procedures. These options are currently under consideration.

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what target date has been set for the implementation of the introduction of mandatory psychological reports, as required under section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Kenny MacAskill: No target date has yet been set.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1668 on 17 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Drug Misuse

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cannabis factories have been discovered by the police in each year since 1999, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executive does not collect information about the number of police operations that have discovered cannabis factories.

  The Scottish Executive does collect drug seizure data from the eight police forces within Scotland and these data do contain information about seizures that have recovered cannabis plants. In most cases it is known many cannabis plants were recovered in each seizure operation. However, specific details about size of plants, how the plants were being grown, whether they were grown for the purpose of sale etc are not known.

  Presented are the number of cannabis plants recovered in drug seizures broken down by the corresponding police forces from year 1999.

  The number of plants from Central was not available over the period. Where plants were recovered in Central, the plants were "weighed" and not counted. This means that plants could not be distinguished from cannabis in herbal form in the statistics. This matter has now been rectified and Central will be able to produce figures in relation to the number of plants recovered in the future.

  1999-2000

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
0
1
0
0
0
1


Fife
6
2
1
0
0
9


Grampian
5
2
0
1
1
9


Lothian and Borders
21
12
3
3
0
39


Northern
7
0
2
1
0
10


Strathclyde
8
2
7
3
1
21


Tayside
4
0
0
0
0
4


Total
51
19
13
8
2
93



  2000-01

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
1
0
1
2


Fife
4
0
3
1
0
8


Grampian
2
0
1
0
0
3


Lothian and Borders
17
5
2
1
4
29


Northern
3
0
1
0
0
4


Strathclyde
21
5
7
3
4
40


Tayside
6
0
1
0
0
7


Total
53
10
16
5
9
93



  2001-02

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
2
0
0
0
1
3


Fife
4
5
1
3
3
16


Grampian
6
0
1
0
1
8


Lothian and Borders
13
5
3
1
2
24


Northern
5
0
0
0
0
5


Strathclyde
20
7
7
1
3
38


Tayside
3
0
0
0
0
3


Total
53
17
12
5
10
97



  2002-03

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
3
0
1
0
0
4


Fife
8
3
4
1
2
18


Grampian
6
1
0
0
0
7


Lothian and Borders
22
8
6
3
4
43


Northern
11
0
1
1
1
14


Strathclyde
30
8
4
6
3
51


Tayside
5
2
4
1
1
13


Total
85
22
20
12
11
150



  2003-04

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
2
1
1
0
0
4


Fife
9
5
6
2
1
23


Grampian
8
2
0
2
1
13


Lothian and Borders
17
4
7
3
1
32


Northern
4
0
1
0
0
5


Strathclyde
34
9
15
9
6
73


Tayside
9
2
7
4
3
25


Total
83
23
37
20
12
175



  2004-05

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
2
1
0
0
2
5


Fife
6
9
4
0
1
20


Grampian
9
5
3
0
0
17


Lothian and Borders
25
4
11
1
4
45


Northern
1
1
0
0
0
2


Strathclyde
29
6
5
5
9
54


Tayside
8
1
5
2
0
16


Total
80
27
28
8
16
159



  2005-06

  

Police Force
Number of Cannabis Plants Seized
Total


1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 25
26 to 50
more than 50


Central
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
1
0
1
0
1
3


Fife
5
3
2
5
2
17


Grampian
8
1
3
0
2
14


Lothian and Borders
25
9
20
4
4
62


Northern
4
1
2
0
0
7


Strathclyde
28
10
14
8
4
64


Tayside
8
2
2
2
0
14


Total
79
26
44
19
13
181

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many shared campus arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools have been implemented in each local authority area.

Maureen Watt: The Executive does not collect systematic information on the incidence of shared campus arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools. However, we understand that the number of such campuses may be as set out in the following table, although this cannot be taken as necessarily representing a complete list.

  Known Number of Denominational/Non-Denominational Shared Campuses

  

Local Authority
 


Edinburgh City
3


Fife
1


Glasgow
1


Midlothian
3


North Lanarkshire
8


Renfrewshire
1


South Ayrshire
1


West Lothian
2

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many shared campus arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools are being considered in each local authority area.

Maureen Watt: The Executive does not collect systematic information on numbers of shared campuses which may be under local authority consideration.

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many twinning arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools have been implemented in each local authority area.

Maureen Watt: A March 2007 survey of denominational schools (which achieved a response rate of 69%) produced the information set out in the following table. Of the 271 denominational schools responding to the survey, 74% were involved in twinning arrangements.

  Number of Schools (both Denominational and Non-Denominational) known to be Involved in Twinning Arrangements during the 2006-07 School Year

  

Local Authority
 


Aberdeen 
7


Angus
1


Argyll and Bute
23


Clackmannanshire
1


Dumfries and Galloway
35


Dundee City 
13


East Ayrshire
9


East Dunbartonshire 
20


East Lothian 
8


East Renfrewshire 
3


Edinburgh City 
20


Falkirk 
8


Fife 
24


Glasgow 
74


Highland 
13


Inverclyde
11


Midlothian 
10


Moray
11


North Ayrshire
11


North Lanarkshire 
56


Perth and Kinross
10


Renfrewshire
18


Scottish Borders
6


South Ayrshire
23


South Lanarkshire 
49


Stirling 
2


West Dunbartonshire 
12


West Lothian 
24


Total
502

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many shared campus arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools also involve twinning arrangements in each local authority area.

Maureen Watt: Such information as we have on schools involved in twinning does not identify whether the schools in question form part of a shared campus.

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to encourage both shared campus and twinning initiatives between denominational and non-denominational schools.

Maureen Watt: The Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland has been commissioned to update and augment the Executive’s anti-sectarianism education resource Don’t Give It, Don’t Take It . As part of that work a new section on twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools is being added. It is also our intention to run for a second year a £100,000 fund to support anti-sectarian projects in schools, including twinning initiatives.

  On shared campuses, it is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide the configuration of their school estate.

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is given to denominational and non-denominational schools considering twinning arrangements.

Maureen Watt: In May 2006 the Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Catholic Education Service ran a national seminar to promote twinning. This was followed in December by publication of Building Friendships and Strengthening Communities: a guide to twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools , a copy of which was sent to every school in Scotland. It is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41267). A £100,000 fund was made available in 2006-07 to support innovative anti-sectarian projects in schools, including establishing new twinning arrangements.

Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers were employed in the 2006-07 academic year, broken down by local authority area and into primary and secondary schools.

Maureen Watt: The following table shows the number of probationer teachers employed in publicly funded schools, by local authority and by sector, on the 2006-07 teacher induction scheme.

  There will have been other probationer teachers employed in publicly funded schools on a temporary/supply basis who either turned down their allocation to the scheme or opted not to apply to the scheme or were not eligible to join the scheme, and there will have been a number of probationer teachers employed by independent schools. Data relating to these categories of probationer teachers are not held centrally.

  

Local Authority
Primary
Secondary
Total


Aberdeen
57
67
124


Aberdeenshire
61
62
123


Angus
40
32
72


Argyll and Bute
31
18
49


Clackmannanshire
19
23
42


Dumfries and Galloway
27
34
61


Dundee
53
46
99


East Ayrshire
50
51
101


East Dunbartonshire
24
27
51


East Lothian
59
45
104


East Renfrewshire
59
85
144


Edinburgh
139
97
236


Eilean Siar
8
14
22


Falkirk
57
65
122


Fife
90
91
181


Glasgow
164
157
321


Highland
63
57
120


Inverclyde
37
37
74


Midlothian
36
44
80


Moray
24
26
50


North Ayrshire
48
61
109


North Lanarkshire
146
134
280


Orkney 
7
5
12


Perth and Kinross
49
31
80


Renfrewshire
76
83
159


Scottish Borders 
21
9
30


Shetland
15
9
24


South Ayrshire
42
39
81


South Lanarkshire
131
120
251


Stirling
41
54
95


West Dunbartonshire
54
49
103


West Lothian
80
69
149


Total
1,808
1,741
3,549



  Figures as at 29 September 2006.

Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers were employed in the 2005-06 academic year, broken down by local authority and into primary and secondary schools and, of these, how many obtained full-time employment at the end of their probationary period in each category.

Maureen Watt: The following table shows the number of probationer teachers employed in publicly funded schools, by local authority and by sector, on the 2005-06 teacher induction scheme as at September 2005 and how many were subsequently employed as full time teachers as at September 2006.

  There will have been other probationer teachers employed in publicly funded schools on a temporary/supply basis who turned down their allocation to the scheme, opted not to apply to the scheme, were not eligible to join the scheme, or were employed by independent schools. Data relating to these categories of probationer teachers are not held centrally.

  There will be a number of teachers who chose to defer taking up employment following successful completion of their induction year or were employed on a part-time or supply basis (whether or not by choice) or were employed in independent schools. While comprehensive data relating to all these categories are not held centrally, a survey conducted by the General Teaching Council for Scotland found that 91.8% of 2005-06 probationers who responded to the survey were employed as teachers in some capacity.

  

Local Authority
Primary
2005-06 probationers on induction scheme as at September 2005
Primary
2005-06 probationers who were employed full time as at September 2006
Secondary 2005-06 probationers on induction scheme as at September 2005
Secondary
2005-06 probationers who were employed full time as at September 2006


Aberdeen
27
19
52
36


Aberdeenshire
73
37
56
37


Angus
38
29
27
22


Argyll and Bute
8
4
11
10


Clackmannanshire
9
8
7
4


Dumfries and Galloway
34
15
19
18


Dundee
18
18
15
13


East Ayrshire
33
10
31
23


East Dunbartonshire
19
12
34
25


East Lothian
43
21
39
27


East Renfrewshire 
54
29
59
32


Edinburgh
84
43
86
57


Eilean Siar
3
2
7
5


Falkirk
46
39
49
41


Fife
70
51
67
55


Glasgow
94
59
114
77


Highland
59
33
43
29


Inverclyde
8
4
15
8


Midlothian
18
9
26
19


Moray
30
14
28
17


North Ayrshire
46
19
37
28


North Lanarkshire
151
126
115
88


Orkney
9
4
7
4


Perth and Kinross
41
21
28
17


Renfrewshire
25
13
20
8


Scottish Borders
25
14
17
12


Shetland Islands
6
3
8
6


South Ayrshire
21
11
14
12


South Lanarkshire
64
38
89
68


Stirling
28
15
42
29


West Dunbartonshire
38
19
38
24


West Lothian
34
19
29
19


Totals
1,256
758
1229
870



  Source: Teacher census.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in establishing the Scottish Schools Digital Network.

Maureen Watt: The Glow (formerly Scottish Schools Digital Network) programme will start offering live services to schools in the first term of the 2007-08 school year. Technical development is largely complete. During the first half of 2007 a series of pilots have been run, involving up to 36 schools from 13 local authorities. The project team has been working with local authorities and other user organisations to help them plan for the introduction of Glow. Most local authorities now have well-developed implementation plans, and eleven have progressed to the point of signing the Customer Agreement which will allow them to take the services.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to funding the Scottish Schools Digital Network.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Executive remains committed to funding the Scottish Schools Digital Network, now known as Glow.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address bullying in schools.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Executive provides support to schools and authorities to tackle bullying wherever and whenever it arises. This consists of a range of guidance to assist schools, education authorities, pupils and families to promote positive behaviour and combat bullying.

  In addition, the Executive funds Respectme the national anti-bullying service for Scotland which was launched on 13 March 2007. Respectme will provide direct support to schools and communities working with young people on tackling bullying.

  The Executive also provides funding to Childline Anti-Bullying Helpline which provides a free confidential telephone helpline for any child or young person concerned about bullying.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it collects statistics on reported incidents of bullying in schools.

Maureen Watt: Education authorities and schools develop and implement anti-bullying policies and decide how incidents of bullying should be monitored and recorded. There is no national data collection on school bullying.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities with regard to the use of mobile phone texting and its role in bullying and harassment in schools.

Maureen Watt: In March 2007 the Scottish Executive issued policy guidance to local authorities on the misuse of mobile phones in school. The guidance covered the use of mobile phones including texting in relation to bullying and harassment, and included further sources of information for teachers, schools, pupils, and parents/carers.

  The Executive currently funds Respectme the national anti-bullying service for Scotland which was launched on 13 March 2007. Respectme will provide direct support to schools and communities on tackling bullying, and will also look at new forms of bullying including text and cyber bullying.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the issue of children with learning disabilities being bullied in school.

Maureen Watt: The Executive funds the national anti-bullying service for Scotland, Respect me  which is charged with supporting schools and communities to prevent and tackle all types of bullying. As indicated in the recent Enable Speak Up  report Respect me  is working in partnership with Enable to develop services meet the needs of children and young people with learning disabilities.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet Enable Scotland to discuss its survey which indicated that over 90% of children with learning disabilities reported being bullied in school.

Maureen Watt: Executive officials will meet Enable later this month to discuss the Speak Up report. Respect me  the national anti-bullying service for Scotland has already met Enable to identify future joint work.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to convene the next meetings of the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group and Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group; whether the membership of these groups has been reaffirmed and, if there are no plans to reconvene the group, what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Richard Lochhead: I have set out my plans for the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group (SeaFAR) in my answer to question S3W-923 on 28 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  I acknowledge the good work done by the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Group (SIFAG) towards the shared aim of profitable and sustainable inshore fisheries and a modern and effective inshore fisheries governance system. I strongly support the principle of delegating responsibility for inshore fisheries management to local fishing interests. I have asked my officials to take stock between now and the summer with local interests on the development of Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs). In the meantime, SIFAG members, with whom I will meet in due course, will have the opportunity to contribute in full to the process.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set up a working group on the regulation of houses in multiple occupation.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish government is mindful of the complex nature of the issues surrounding provision and regulation of houses of multiple occupation and we are considering new guidance to help address this. There will be close engagement with stakeholders in developing guidance.

Justice

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many restriction of liberty orders have been issued since April 2005, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: A total of 1,999 restriction of liberty orders have been imposed between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2007. The information is not collected by local authority area but the following table provides details by court sheriffdom.

  

Sheriffdom
1 April to
31 December 2005
1 January to
31 December 2006
1 January to
31 March 2007


Glasgow and Strathkelvin
83
73
21


Grampian, Highlands and Islands
80
90
30


Lothian and Borders
83
76
28


North Strathclyde
53
70
25


South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway
156
308
59


Tayside, Central and Fife
272
402
83


High Court
4
2
1


Stipendiary Magistrates
0
0
0


Total
731
1021
247

Justice

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or over have been convicted of carrying knives or possessing an offensive weapon in Argyll and Bute in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information on persons with a charge proved in court is given in the following tables.

  Persons Aged Under 18 in Argyll and Bute Local Authority Area1 with a Charge Proved in Court for Carrying Knives or Possessing an Offensive Weapon2, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

Year
Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or Point
Possession of an Offensive Weapon
Total


2001-02
1
-
1


2002-03
2
1
3


2003-04
1
2
3


2004-05
1
-
1


2005-06
-
-
-



  Notes:

  1. Argyll and Bute District Court and Campbeltown, Dunoon, Oban and Rothesay Sheriff Courts.

  2. Where main offence.

  Persons Aged 18 and Over in Argyll and Bute Local Authority Area with a Charge Proved in Court for Carrying Knives or Possessing an Offensive Weapon1, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

Year
Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or Point
Possession of an Offensive Weapon
Total


2001-02
14
2
16


2002-03
5
6
11


2003-04
10
11
21


2004-05
9
9
18


2005-06
8
4
12



  Notes:

  1. Argyll and Bute District Court and Campbeltown, Dunoon, Oban and Rothesay Sheriff Courts.

  2. Where main offence.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions and meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice had with relevant parties prior to his decision to lift the ban on alcohol at Murrayfield.

Kenny MacAskill: Prior to the de-designation of Senior International Men’s Rugby matches, officials held discussions on my behalf with Lothian and Borders Police, Strathclyde Police, Edinburgh Licensing Board and representatives of the Scottish Rugby Union.

Local Government Finance

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the distribution of local government finance to ensure that greater weight is given to areas that have a sparse population and are affected by the high costs of service delivery to remote or island populations and, if so, when any such review will take place and what methods will be used for any such review.

John Swinney: The distribution of local government finance is kept under regular review and the needs-based formula currently contains indicators to recognise the additional cost of delivering services to areas with sparse populations such as the number of pupils in small schools and population living in settlements of less than 1,000.

  In addition, the Special Islands Needs Allowance (SINA) provides additional funding for local authorities with habitable islands in recognition of the unique circumstances that they face in delivering services to their Island communities.

  As I indicated in Parliament on 28 June, I am always open to suggestions for possible improvements to the distribution formula.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the agreed procedure in relation to the confidentiality of advice provided to the previous administration will be respected by the new Scottish ministers appointed in May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will respect the convention on access to information of a former administration where this is not inconsistent with its obligations to provide information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Prison Service

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) the next stage of the bidding process to build and run the replacement building for Low Moss prison will be complete, (b) a decision on the successful bid will be announced and (c) it is anticipated that work on the new prison will start.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Scottish ministers are currently considering options for the future development of this site. Details in relation to procurement of the new prison will be confirmed on the conclusion of this exercise.

Rail Network

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the Waverley railway project through Midlothian and the Borders.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive remains committed to the Waverley railway project on the same terms as the previous administration.

Rail Network

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-204 by John Swinney on 14 June 2007 ( Official Report , c. 780-81), whether it plans a full review of the (a) Waverley Railway project, (b) Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway, (c) Glasgow Airport Rail Link, (d) Airdrie to Bathgate rail link, (e) redevelopment of Waverley station and (f) Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.

Stewart Stevenson: In the transport debate on 27 June 2007, we informed the Parliament about how we would take forward and manage our investment programme for transport.

  We confirmed our commitment to the Waverley Railway (Borders) project, advising however that the funding package proposed by the Waverley railway partnership would not be sufficient to deliver the project and that the opening in December 2011 was not achievable. We confirmed funding support of £115 million in 2002 prices, subject to the project meeting the three remaining funding conditions i.e. (1) assumptions underlining the business case must hold, (2) a clear and comprehensive risk management strategy must be developed and delivered and (3) the railway must be integrated with local bus services.

  On the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine project we advised that due to concerns that the project was running late and over budget we would introduce a simpler project structure to strengthen governance which would take the project through to opening in spring 2008 at a cost of £80 million to £85 million.

  In respect of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Network Rail (NR) are working together to combine the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) with NR’s Paisley Corridor Renewal (PCR) project.

  Transport Scotland, SPT and NR will, over the Parliament’s summer recess, work to deliver the detailed schedule, cost and risk model for the integrated projects and we expect to be in a position to provide the Parliament with an update in the early autumn.

  We will press Network Rail for the delivery of the full Airdrie to Bathgate scheme by December 2010 and we expect them to contain costs within the range of £300 million to £375 million in outturn prices.

  Similarly we expect Network Rail to deliver the core of the current Waverley station works on schedule and within budget by the end of 2007. Network Rail continues to work with the Balmoral hotel to reach agreement on the proposed improvements to the Waverley steps.

  The Larkhall to Milngavie project was delivered on schedule in December 2005. The original budget for the project was £34.5 million and the current estimated final cost is £35.24 million, which is subject to discussions between Transport Scotland and SPT. You will be pleased to note that the patronage figures for the service as of March 2007 show an increase of some 53% against the original business case forecasts.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it inherited from the previous administration for further extensions to the Borders railway.

Stewart Stevenson: No plans have been inherited by the Scottish Executive from the previous administration for further extensions to the Borders railway.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when work will begin on the new Plains station as part of the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently reviewing the Plains station feasibility report.

  A decision on whether to proceed with a station at Plains will be made following this review.

Rail Network

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the final costs were of the tendering process for the current First Scotrail franchise.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the figure was reached for the final costs of the tendering process for the current First Scotrail franchise, once all transactions had been completed.

Stewart Stevenson: The former Strategic Rail Authority was responsible for tendering the current First ScotRail franchise. The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.

Rail Network

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the financial details of the procurement process for the current First Scotrail franchise were made available by the Strategic Rail Authority to the Executive and Strathclyde Passenger Transport, as part of collaboration between those parties during the refranchising process.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Rail Authority was responsible for the procurement of the current franchise. To the extent that costs were incurred by the authority, detail on these were not provided to the Executive. The Executive was provided with full copies of the tender documentation and bid responses throughout the competition for the franchise.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sets a minimum benefit to cost ratio for rail projects and, if so, what that level is.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive does not set a minimum benefit to cost ratio for rail projects. Since 2001 it has been a requirement that all transport projects, for which Scottish Executive support or approval is required, be appraised in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). STAG ensures that the contribution of transport improvements to the economy is fully assessed alongside contributions and impacts on the environment, accessibility and social inclusion, safety, and integration. The successful completion of the STAG process allows the rationale behind a potential transport intervention to be presented in a clear, evidence-led manner and provides the information required by a decision maker to make an informed and appropriate choice.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the case for, or implement an increase in, the frequency of off-peak trains from North Berwick to Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scotland’s Railways document sets out the vision for the short, medium and long term plan for railways in Scotland. The implementation plan contained in the document includes a short term aspiration to enhance services to North Berwick.

  In addition Network Rail’s East Coast Main Line (ECML) Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) is currently out to consultation and includes consideration of a half hourly off peak service on the North Berwick route.

  From December 2006 timetable, an additional service was introduced at 2037 from Edinburgh to North Berwick, operating Monday to Saturday to provide a more consistent level of service in the evening.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support a reduction in the number of peak-time trains calling at North Berwick.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact on the economy, environment and road congestion of a reduction in the number of peak-time trains calling at North Berwick.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has no plans to consider a reduction in the number of peak time trains calling at North Berwick.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the transport strategic spending review, it is satisfied with the (a) accuracy of the cost of and (b) assessment of risk involved in the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: As I announced in my statement to Parliament on 26 June Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Network Rail (NR) are working together to combine the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) with NR’s Paisley Corridor Renewal (PCR) project.

  Transport Scotland, SPT and NR will, over the Parliament’s summer recess, work to deliver the detailed schedule, cost and risk model for the integrated projects and we expect to be in a position to provide the Parliament with an update in the early autumn.

  The integration of these two projects will minimise the disruption on what is one of Scotland’s busiest rail corridors.

Roads

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will progress the upgrading of the A737.

Stewart Stevenson: The Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk provides the current position on the four improvement projects on the A737 trunk road along with details of other projects in the Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme.

  The A737 is within one of the corridors which will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review, in terms of which investment should be prioritised from 2012 to 2022. This review will identify gaps and weaknesses on the national strategic transport network, which includes trunk roads as well as the national rail network.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost of improving the local road network.

Stewart Stevenson: Audit Scotland published Maintaining Scotland’s roads on 3 November 2004, stating that estimated backlog on local roads amounts to £1.5 billion. This figure has not been verified by Scottish Executive, but we are investigating the need for further road maintenance funding, in advance of the spending review 2007. Audit Scotland report Scottish Executive; an overview of the performance of transport in Scotland published in 2006 restated the £1.5 billion figure Audit Scotland believe is needed to clear the backlog of road maintenance.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the annual cost of routine structural maintenance on the road network.

Stewart Stevenson: The estimate for local roads is a matter for the local authorities. The Scottish Executive does not require councils to provide the information requested and therefore has no centrally held estimate. The Scottish Executive supports local authorities’ net revenue expenditure on roads maintenance through the core local government finance settlement. Spending Review 2004 added a further £60 million in both 2006-07 and 2007-08 to the Roads and Transport Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocations, the majority of which was added to the roads maintenance GAEs. Total GAE for roads maintenance will amount to £320 million by 2007-08 and this represents an increase of 23% on the 2004-05 allocation to local authorities. Each council is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of local roads in its area and it is entirely a matter for councils to decide what priority is given to local roads and to allocate the resources available to them accordingly.

  Transport Scotland have budgeted £60.4 million for structural road and bridge maintenance and £51.9 million for routine maintenance and winter service on the trunk road network for 2007-08.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the condition of local roads.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers provide local authorities with revenue allocations for expenditure on a number of services, including roads and transport. Each council is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of local roads in its area. It is entirely a matter for councils to decide what priority is given to local roads and to allocate resources accordingly.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase funding to local authorities to improve the condition of local roads.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive supports local authorities’ net revenue expenditure on roads maintenance through the core local government finance settlement. Spending Review 2004  added a further £60 million in both 2006-07 and 2007-08 to the Roads and Transport Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocations, the majority of which was added to the roads maintenance GAEs. Total GAE for roads maintenance will amount to £320 million by 2007-08 and this represents an increase of 23% on the 2004-05 allocation to local authorities. Each council is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of local roads in its area and it is entirely a matter for councils to decide what priority is given to local roads and to allocate the resources available to them accordingly.

  The Executive is currently considering a bid by COSLA for increased funding on local road maintenance in the context of Spending Review 2007.

Roads

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects Transport Scotland’s financial review of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route to have any impact on the timetable for completing the project.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the results of the review of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route carried out by Transport Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-795 on 19 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to improve the A7 at Selkirk and, in particular, to build a bypass for the town.

Stewart Stevenson: Officials from Transport Scotland and Scottish Borders Council have worked together in studying the case for a Selkirk Bypass. The outcome of this work will be available to feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is looking at the existing and future requirements of our national strategic transport networks. The STPR is due to report its findings and recommendations in summer 2008.

Roads

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports commissioned by the previous administration into extending the Borders railway beyond Tweedbank it has been able to access.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive prior to May 2007 has not commissioned any reports into extending the Borders railway beyond Tweedbank.

Roads

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, why, following the decision to revisit the Edinburgh trams project and the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, it has decided not to revisit both the route and the scale of the proposed upgrade of the A/M80 where it passes through Cumbernauld.

Stewart Stevenson: As I informed Parliament in my statement on transport on 27 June 2007 the case for the M80 Stepps to Haggs project is clear and we are committed to continuing with the tendering process.

Roads

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to trunking the A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh.

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable would be for trunking the A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to trunk the A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh.

Roads

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the estimated completion date for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route has changed from 2011 to 2012.

Stewart Stevenson: The 2011 deadline was challenging and had no room for slippage. As the project has developed it has become clear that the land searches required to complete the draft Compulsory Purchase Orders have been more complex and have taken longer than anticipated. New procedures for confirming orders within the Transport and Works (Scotland) Act 2007 which came into force earlier this year will also have an impact on the overall timetable.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its priority road improvements and upgrades are, shown in order of preference.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which junctions on the A9 will be upgraded, also showing the timetable and projected costs for each upgrade.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its priority road projects are in the west of Scotland.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is currently being incurred on road improvements on the A9.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure will be incurred on road improvements on the A9 in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Stevenson: Details and timescales for our major and important planned road projects can be found on the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/uploads/documents/Scottish-Motorways-Trunk-Road-Programme-June2007-final.pdf.

Roads

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment will be made available to Transport Scotland to enable the delivery of route improvements on roads such as the A702.

Stewart Stevenson: Our current programme of investment in the trunk road network is available on the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/uploads/documents/Scottish-Motorways-Trunk-Road-Programme-June2007-final.pdf.

  Future transport investment priorities on the motorway and trunk road network will be considered by the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The STPR is looking at the existing and future requirements of our transport networks. The STPR is due to report its findings and recommendations in summer 2008.

Roads

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what system is in place to ensure that roadworks are properly managed and disruption is minimised.

Stewart Stevenson: When carrying out roadworks, roads authorities are expected to comply with the Code of Practice Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance . This Code of Practice has been prepared by the Institution of Highways and Transportation and is endorsed by, amongst others, the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland.

  Utility Companies such as gas and electricity suppliers also carry out roadworks and are required to comply with the statutory Code of Practice – Safety at street works and road works issued jointly by the Scottish Executive, the Department for Transport and the Welsh assembly Government.

  The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 requires utilities to serve notice on roads authorities giving advance intimation on all proposed road works and reinstatements. It further requires roads authorities to keep a register of road works in roads for which they are responsible. Information submitted by utility companies is circulated to other utility companies so that, where possible, they may co-ordinate road works.

  Provisions contained in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 will further improve the co-ordination and planning of road works. Measures include new requirements for improving the quality of information submitted and the appointment of a Scottish Road Works Commissioner who can impose penalties in the event of systematic failure to comply.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional cost is associated with the southern loop of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route to Stonehaven and the benefit to cost ratio of that element of the project.

Stewart Stevenson: The Fastlink between Stonehaven and Cleanhill Junction is an integral part of the scheme as a whole. No separate cost estimate or benefit to cost ratio has been prepared for this section of the project.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated costs are associated with moving the International School of Aberdeen from the preferred route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: The compensation payable is not yet known but will be paid in accordance with relevant legislation and will be assessed by the independent Valuation Office Agency.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what developer contribution has been factored into sharing the costs of delivering the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: None.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any reports on the cost of the proposed dualling of the A9 from Perth to Inverness.

Stewart Stevenson: The most recent study on dualling sections of the A9 was the A9 Perth to Blair Atholl Route Improvement Strategy Study which is available on the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/defaultpage1221cde0.aspx?pageID=109&rlID=585.

  Further scoping work is underway and this will feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in June 2008.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what calculation has been made of the additional impact of carbon emissions from vehicles if the A9 from Perth to Inverness is dualled and how this is being factored into benefit to cost ratio calculations.

Stewart Stevenson: Future investment on the trunk road network, including the A9, will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008.

  The review involves a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance based appraisal which will include an assessment of all environmental impacts.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to extending improvements to the A82 road southwards of the work being done under the £90 million Tarbet to Fort William Route Action Plan.

Stewart Stevenson: Future investment on the trunk road network, including the A82, will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008.

  Details and timescales for our major and important planned road projects can be found on the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/uploads/documents/Scottish-Motorways-Trunk-Road-Programme-June2007-final.pdf.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the transport strategic spending review, it is satisfied with the (a) accuracy of the cost of and (b) assessment of risk involved in dualling the A9.

Stewart Stevenson: The review related to the current inherited programme as set out in the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/uploads/documents/Scottish-Motorways-Trunk-Road-Programme-June2007-final.pdf.

  Future investment on the trunk road network, including the A9, will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008.

Roads

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when detailed cost estimates for dualling the A9 will be completed.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when detailed design work for dualling the A9 will be completed.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are working on organising detailed cost estimates for dualling the A9.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are working on detailed design work for dualling the A9.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what phasing of expenditure is planned for dualling the A9 in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Stevenson: We are committed to planning for the dualling of the A9. Options will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which is due to report next summer. We will consider these options and take an informed decision on all the evidence including costs and benefits. More detailed planning would follow that decision-making process.

Roads

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Highland Council over the adoption of the trunk link road in Inverness as an official trunk road.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was first approached by the Highland Council to request the adoption of the trunk link road in Inverness as a trunk road.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the adoption of the trunk link road in Inverness as a trunk road.

Stewart Stevenson: My officials in Transport Scotland have had regular discussion with Highland Council representatives about their proposals for the B8082 Inverness Southern Distributor Road (trunk link road), including the possibility of trunking the route. Formal written approaches were made earlier this year by the Chairman of Highland Council’s Transport, Environment and Community Services Committee and senior officers in Highland Council asking about the possibility of trunking the route.

  I shall await the outcome of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) before taking any decision on the issue of trunking and funding. The STPR will consider the need for alternatives to the existing trunk routes through Inverness as a strategic transport hub and this will take account of the work undertaken by Highlands Council on the Inverness South Connectivity Study which includes the Inverness Southern Distributor Road.

School Meals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-568 by Fiona Hyslop on 18 June 2007, whether any consultation will be held on where free school meals pilot schemes will take place before plans for the pilots are published.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-568 by Fiona Hyslop on 18 June 2007, when plans for free school meals pilot schemes will be published.

Adam Ingram: Details of the local authorities that have been selected to take part in the free school meals pilot schemes were announced on Wednesday 11 July 2007. The pilots will involve all pupils in primary 1 to primary 3 (P1 to P3) in Glasgow City Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, Fife Council, East Ayrshire Council and Scottish Borders Council. These authorities have been selected because they include recognised areas of deprivation and cover urban areas as well as small towns and rural areas. Further details of the pilots will be set out in due course.

Sexual Offences

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of charges of sexual offences against women which have come to trial have been referred to the sheriff court in each of the last five years.

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of charges of sexual offences against men which have come to trial have been referred to the sheriff court in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not available as the statistics collected centrally on prosecutions do not identify victim characteristics unless this is implied by the specific charge involved.

Sexual Offences

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of charges of sexual offences against children which have come to trial have been referred to the sheriff court in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The statistics collected centrally on prosecutions do not identify victim characteristics unless this is implied by the specific charge involved. The available information on those sexual offence categories which by definition involve child victim(s) is given in the following table.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Sheriff Courts for Selected Sexual Offences1, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Number
315
237
248
252
257


% of persons proceeded against in all courts for these crimes
86
81
83
84
89



  Note: 1. Where main offence involved included sexual intercourse with girl under 13 to 16, person with custody or care of girl and causing her seduction, lewd and libidinous practices, grooming of children for the purposes of sexual offences, procuration of sexual services from children under 18 and procuration of child under 18 for pornography.

Sexual Offences

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of individuals found guilty of sexual offences against women have not served custodial sentences for the offences that they committed in each of the last five years.

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of individuals found guilty of sexual offences against men in each of the last five years were known to have subsequently committed a sexual offence.

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of individuals found guilty of sexual offences against women in each of the last five years were known to have subsequently committed a sexual offence.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not available as the statistics collected centrally on convictions do not identify victim characteristics unless this is implied by the specific charge involved.

Sexual Offences

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of individuals found guilty of sexual offences against children have not served custodial sentences for the offences that they committed in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The statistics collected centrally on convictions do not identify victim characteristics unless this is implied by the specific charge involved. The available information on those sexual offence categories which by definition involved child victim(s) is given in the following table.

  Persons given a Non-Custodial Sentence in Scottish Courts for Selected Sexual Offences1, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Number
184
144
148
147
133


% of persons with a charge proved for these crimes
62
57
58
60
55



  Note: 1. Where main offence involved included sexual intercourse with girl under 13 to 16, person with custody or care of girl and causing her seduction, lewd and libidinous practices, grooming of children for the purposes of sexual offences, procuration of sexual services from children under 18 and procuration of child under 18 for pornography.

Sexual Offences

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of individuals found guilty of sexual offences against children in each of the last five years were known to have subsequently committed a sexual offence.

Kenny MacAskill: The statistics collected centrally on convictions do not identify victim characteristics unless this is implied by the specific charge involved. The available information on those sexual offence categories which by definition involved child victim(s) is given in the following table.

  Persons Released from a Custodial Sentence or given a Non-Custodial Sentence in 1998-99 to 2002-03 with an Index Conviction for Selected Sexual Offences1: Number and Percentage Reconvicted within Two Years for a Sexual Offence2

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


Number reconvicted within two years
14
14
13
9
5


% of offenders with relevant index conviction
5
5
5
3
2



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence involved included sexual intercourse with girl under 13 to 16, person with custody or care of girl and causing her seduction, lewd and libidinous practices, grooming of children for the purposes of sexual offences, procuration of sexual services from children under 18 and procuration of child under 18 for pornography.

  2. Reconvictions for crimes of indecency, excluding offences related to prostitution.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Social Work Inspection Agency’s report on its inspection of Argyll and Bute Council’s social work services.

Adam Ingram: The report of the Social Work Inspection Agency on Argyll and Bute Council’s social work services is due for publication by the agency in late October 2007.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Argyll and Bute Council to discuss social work services at the council.

Adam Ingram: A meeting was held with Argyll and Bute Council and the then Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care on 14 November 2006.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use its powers of intervention in respect of social work services at Argyll and Bute Council if it is found that there is not a sufficiently robust improvement plan.

Adam Ingram: The report of the Social Work Inspection Agency on Argyll and Bute Council’s social work services is due for publication in late October. I will consider any response to that report, and the council’s plan for improvement, at that time.

Speed Limits

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the observance of 20mph speed zones around schools.

Stewart Stevenson: The enforcement of the law is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Supermarkets

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will protect and revitalise town centres in light of the growth of out-of-town supermarkets.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish planning policy supports the protection and enhancement of town centres and indicates that they should be the first choice for new shopping developments. Other measures to benefit town centres include our support for Business Improvement Districts pilots, the substantial funding we provide to local government to support a range of local services including for housing and regeneration, and our commitment to remove or reduce the burden of business rates for small businesses, many of which are located in town centres throughout Scotland.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used under the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) to assess (a) road and (b) rail projects.

Stewart Stevenson: Options emerging from the STPR will be assessed against the Government’s strategic objectives and will be formally appraised in accordance with the STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) process.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for further detail if required.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider funding any projects not considered in the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund any projects assessed in the Strategic Transport Projects Review that do not meet the assessment criteria.

Stewart Stevenson: Projects that do not meet the objectives and assessment criteria for the STPR will require further consideration before any funding by the Scottish Executive can be considered.

Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-305 by Stewart Stevenson on 21 June 2007 ( Official Report  c. 997), whether its proposals for a new Forth crossing include options for public transport.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-305 by Stewart Stevenson on 21 June 2007 ( Official Report c. 997), whether it will ensure that the design and construction of the new crossing increases public transport capacity across the Forth.

Stewart Stevenson: Provision for enhanced public transport will be incorporated into the replacement crossing in order to manage predicted increase in demand for cross-Forth travel.

Transport

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on whether to provide Luing with a fixed link crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: My officials are currently considering the Cuan Sound Transport Links STAG 2 report by Atkins, which forms the basis of a funding request from Argyll and Bute Council for a high level bridge crossing over the Cuan Sound. We will respond to the council in due course.

Transport

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic benefits to Luing of the proposed fixed link crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: The economic benefits to Luing of a proposed high level bridge crossing over the Cuan Sound, as set out in the Cuan Sound Transport Links STAG 2 report by Atkins, are currently being assessed by my officials as part of a funding request from Argyll and Bute Council.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will commit funding for a new Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: A decision on the preferred crossing option and how it will be funded will be made in autumn 2007.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted if required.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the range of estimates for the cost of a new Forth crossing announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 27 June 2007 ( Official Report c. 1132) was given at 2016 prices and what element has been built in for inflation in each year from 2007-08 to 2016-17.

Stewart Stevenson: The cost estimates which I quoted in Parliament on 27 June 2007 were an estimate of likely outturn costs on completion of the crossing and emphasise the scale of this project. These estimates are based on an estimated construction inflation of 5% year-on-year up to financial year 2016-17.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what options for a new Forth crossing are under consideration.

Stewart Stevenson: On 26 June 2007 the Cabinet decided to pursue two crossing options (a bridge at Corridor D just west of the existing bridge and a tunnel option at Corridor C) before making a final decision on the preferred crossing in the autumn. These options are set out more fully in the Study Reports which can be found at www.transportscotland.gov.uk/stpr .

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used to cover the costs of building a new Forth crossing.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new Forth crossing would be part-funded by tolling its users.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether options for a new Forth crossing which would involve tolls on the existing crossing continuing as an income stream to part-fund the costs of any new crossing are under active consideration.

Stewart Stevenson: Further work on funding options for the crossing will take place over the summer to allow a decision to be made in autumn 2007.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with finance and construction companies regarding funding options for a new Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: There have been informal discussions with banks, Partnerships UK and both construction and consulting engineers as part of the Forth Replacement Crossing Study. These discussions have included discussions about the construction methodology for the crossing, risks to delivery and the wide range of procurement and finance options available.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any discussions about funding methodologies with potential providers of a new Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: There have not been any discussions about funding methodologies with potential providers of a new Forth crossing.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the relative benefit to cost ratios are of building a (a) tunnel and (b) bridge as a new Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: On 26 June 2007 the Cabinet decided to pursue two crossing options (a bridge at Corridor D just west of the existing bridge and a tunnel option at Corridor C) before making a decision on the preferred crossing in the autumn. The relative benefit to cost ratios of these options are:

  Tunnel in Corridor C = 2.23

  Cable-Stayed Bridge in Corridor D = 4.31

  Suspension Bridge in Corridor D = 3.83.

  These are set out in the final study report which can be found at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk/stpr.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is in place in respect of the closure of the Forth and Tay road bridges to traffic in the event of wind speeds in excess of 50mph and what guidance on closure during high winds will be issued if the new Forth crossing is a bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Both the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board (TRBJB) maintain procedural manuals for dealing with the impact of high winds on the bridges.

  A decision on the type of replacement crossing for the Forth will be made in autumn 2007, therefore it is too early to comment at this stage.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions were held between 16 and 31 May 2007 with employees involved in toll collection at the Forth Estuary Transport Authority concerning their employment.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA).

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive were held between 16 and 31 May 2007 with employees involved in toll collection at the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board concerning their employment.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board (TRBJB).

Young People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have issued Young Scot cards and how many are currently in circulation, expressed also as a percentage of each local authority’s secondary school population.

John Swinney: There are approximately 337,000 Young Scot branded cards in circulation throughout all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities.

  These are a mixture of the original non smart cards (issued prior to April 2006) and the replacement National Entitlement Card (smartcard) which has been available to all young people since April 2006. The immediate priority has been to issue the cards to those young people who are entitled to the Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme (which has been operational since January 2007).

  Work is currently on-going with all local authorities (and in conjunction with Young Scot) to replace all the original non smart cards.

  There is currently no information available on what percentage of these cards are held by secondary school pupils in each local authority. However, when the new national card management solution is in place (October 2007) such management information will be available.

Young People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for the Young Scot scheme and how it is distributed.

Adam Ingram: Young Scot receives £750,000 per annum from the Scottish Executive. As the National Youth Information Agency for Scotland they take forward a range of projects and initiatives to provide young people across Scotland with information and other services to help them make informed life choices and play an active part in their own communities.